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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. stand — to bear
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. net — for catching
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. bass — the fish
  8. net — in sport
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bass — low music
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. net — after costs
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. mine — for digging
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. chip — to eat
  20. fine — all right
  21. fine — high quality
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. chair — a leader
  24. chair — a professorship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com